Shortspine thornyhead (Sebastolobus alascanus) inhabit deepwater soft bottom habitats over the outer edge of the continental shelf and the continental slope. The spawning characteristics are the main difference between sebastes and sebastolubus. Sebastes spawn internally and release their young as larvae. Sebastolobus spawn externally releasing their eggs in a gelatinous mass that is fertilized by the male. The shortspine thornyhead constitute part of the deepwater rockfish assemblage along with blackgill rockfish, Pacific Ocean perch, darkbloched rockfish, shortraker rockfish, splitnose rockfish, redbanded rockfish and the rougheye rockfish. Although the shortspine thornyhead can occur as shallow as 85 feet, they mainly occur between 328 feet and 3280 feet. Their color varies most often from bright red to pink with some black on the fins and 1 or 2 black dots on the spinous dorsal fin.

The longspine thornyhead and other thornyhead rockfish live at depths beyond the ability of recreational anglers to fish for them. Thornyheads are long lived: living up to 62 and possibly as long as the shortspine thornyhead at 133 years. They grow throughout their life attaining a maximum length of 24 inches. Thornyheads are sitandwait predators that remain motionless for extended periods of time. They feed on shrimp, crabs, amphipods, marine worms, forage fish and other thornyheads. The shortspine thornyhead is a desirable food fish.

The variety of rockfish species found in Oregon's coastal waters fulfills the expectations of all recreational anglers regardless the level of their expertise. Remember that conservation is the key that will assure good fishing into the future. Only take enough fish to fulfill your immediate needs.